Part Two

Masks

Casey Jones

Mask of Brutality

Let's face it.

We all wear masks.

Mine is easy to put on. All I have to do is strap it on and I'm good to go.

But you know what?

There's also more then one way to hide your face.

Except I can't wear my hockey mask all the time. When I'm not bashing skulls, I wear a mask of skin and bone. One that doesn't come with straps, know what I mean?

Each day, I walk on on the streets, looking at weary faces. Looking at people who have no idea of the bruises that exist on my body for their sake. They don't know that I get the crud beat out of me, just so they can walk to work without worrying about punks getting ideas about daylight mugging. But to anyone who looks at the skin on my face, I'm just a dumb brute. A literal bonehead. And yeah, I can be pretty stupid sometimes. Does this mean I have no heart?

Then again, I can't afford to be all lovey when the lives of my friends are on the line. I have to strong… and most of the time, I have to be mean. It's not my job to the nice guy.

And though it bothers me sometimes, I know I wouldn't be good at being the nice guy. Sometimes, I have to be the brute, so that others can have the luxury of being nice.

Hey, did I just sound smart?

Or maybe I really AM just a bonehead.

My hockey mask can look as brutal as the flesh that covers my face sometimes…

And it makes me wonder at times…

Are there people who hide their own brutality with a mask of gentleness?

Leatherhead

Mask Of Intellect

Let's face it.

We all wear masks.

Mine is… not that easy to put on.

Because, you see, I cannot hide the fact that I am a monster.

Though I have intelligence that separates me from my monstrous appearance, the beast in me still lurks.

Often times, my mask is not enough for me to hide what I am… what I could become.

I cannot easily disguise my growls and snarls as words to express what I feel.

I cannot always hide away from my rage, my fear…

My animosity of those that instilled these conditions in me.

If not for my friends, those who I call my brothers, I would be lost. My mask would be different… it would be no mask.

My visage would be that of a mere savage. A monster with a taste for blood and violence.

I feel such shame. I can build technology that no human could accomplish… yet I could be reduced to a drooling, snarling, incomparable beast at the merest provocation.

Tell me… wouldn't you wear a mask to hide that which you were ashamed of? I am ashamed that my intelligence is one way to hide my feral instincts… But it's all I have.

April

Mask Of Courage

Let's face it. We all wear masks.

Wow, what a thought. I always feel like others lean on me to be understanding, to be brave and to have all the answers. I'm the girl my friends turn to for advice. Who the hell am I to tell them what I think? Why is it my opinion that they find so important? I'm only human, I'm just an antique shop owner. Why has so much trust been placed in me?

I'm not saying I resent it, far from it! I just know that… they could have someone better. Braver. Stronger. Someone who's more… I don't know.

I never let them see me like this.

Insecure, worried… just so overwhelmed by the things that have happened in my life. I'm working hard to not let it get to me, to stay strong for them… It's such an act at times.

How can I bear to be so hypocritical, as if I really do have all the answers, as if my opinion is the best and most objective?

But if I fail them, then it'll be so much worse.

I'll just have to suck it up and keep smiling.

Karai

Mask Of Honor

Let's face it… everyone covers their face.

It has taken me so long to realize that my honor is a way to disguise my truest self.

My reflection mocks me, with it's cold eyes and the sneer that emanates from my lips…

I don't even recognize myself from the scared, defiant girl I used to be. Now, I am a tool, a weapon, to be used against those that anger my master. But inside, I do not agree with him.

His methods, his judgements… It is all dishonorable.

But I owe him a debt that I will never be able to repay. And so I call my obedience and loyalty honor, and I stay behind that title, I keep my cold mask, my haughty eyes and grim lips, to keep others from seeing my self-disgust, my doubt and my sorrow at the many sins I commit to keep my head above water.

My self-worth is pushed to the back of my mind as I work to fool everyone... including myself.

I;ve been meaning to do this for quite some time. I hope these are just as good as the others. I think I might be completely off about Karai, but oh well.

review, please :)